Smallpox vaccine for cancer treatment

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein are methods and compositions related to therapy for cancer. More specifically, the disclosed methods and compositions are related to the use of smallpox vaccine to induce an effective anti-tumor immune response.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/235,082, entitled “SMALLPOX VACCINE FOR CANCER TREATMENT,” now allowed, filed Aug. 11, 2016, which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/203,835, filed Aug. 11, 2015, U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/216,292, filed Sep. 9, 2015, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/317,226, filed Apr. 1, 2016. The disclosure of each of the above-referenced applications is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cancer is the second most common cause of death in the United States, exceeded only by heart disease. In the United States, cancer accounts for 1 of every 4 deaths. The 5-year relative survival rate for all cancer patients diagnosed in 1996-2003 is 66%, up from 50% in 1975-1977 (Cancer Facts & Figures American Cancer Society: Atlanta, Ga. (2008)). Discovering highly effective cancer treatments is a primary goal of cancer research.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for treating a solid tumor or hematologic malignancy in a subject.

In some embodiments, disclosed herein is a method for treating a proliferative disease (e.g., solid tumor or hematologic malignancy) in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a smallpox vaccine. In some embodiments, the smallpox vaccine is a replication competent virus. In some embodiments, the smallpox vaccine does not comprise heterologous nucleic acid. In some embodiments, the smallpox vaccine is administered by intratumoral, intravenous, intraperitoneal, intrathecal, intraventricular, intraarticular, or intraocular injection. In some embodiments, the smallpox vaccine is an attenuated New York City Board of Health (NYCBOH) strain of vaccinia virus. In some embodiments, the NYCBOH strain of vaccinia virus may be ATCC VR-118 or CJ-MVB-SPX. In some embodiments, the smallpox vaccine is selected from Dryvax, ACAM1000, ACAM2000, Lister, EM63, LIVP, Tian Tan, Copenhagen, Western Reserve, or Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA). In some embodiments, the solid tumor is selected from: glioblastoma, breast carcinoma, lung carcinoma, prostate carcinoma, colon carcinoma, ovarian carcinoma, neuroblastoma, central nervous system tumor, or melanoma. In some embodiments, the subject is human. In some embodiments, the subject is a pediatric patient. In some embodiments, the proliferative disease is a childhood or pediatric tumor or cancer.

In some embodiments, disclosed herein is a method for treating a solid tumor or hematologic malignancy in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a smallpox vaccine concurrently with a stem cell. In some embodiments, the stem cell is an autologous stem cell. In some embodiments, the stem cell is selected from the group consisting of adult stem cells, embryonic stem cells, fetal stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, neural stem cells, totipotent stem cells, pluripotent stem cells, multipotent stem cells, oligopotent stem cells, unipotent stem cells, adipose stromal cells, endothelial stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, bone marrow stem cells, cord blood stem cells, adult peripheral blood stem cells, myoblast stem cells, small juvenile stem cells, skin fibroblast stem cells, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the stem cell is an adipose stromal cell.

In some embodiments, the stem cell is a modified stem cell. In some embodiments, the modified stem cell is an adult stem cell. In some embodiments, the modified stem cell is transformed with a lenti-virus or retrovirus. In some embodiments, the modified stem cell is transiently transfected with an artificial chromosome, virus or plasmid DNA. In some embodiments, the stem cell is autologous. In some embodiments, the smallpox vaccine does not comprise heterologous nucleic acid. In some embodiments, the smallpox vaccine is administered by intratumoral, intravenous, intraperitoneal, intrathecal, intraventricular, intraarticular, or intraocular injection. In some embodiments, the smallpox vaccine is an attenuated New York City Board of Health (NYCBOH) strain of vaccinia virus. In some embodiments, the NYCBOH strain of vaccinia virus may be ATCC VR-118 or CJ-MVB-SPX. In some embodiments, the smallpox vaccine is selected from Dryvax, ACAM1000, ACAM2000, Lister, EM63, LIVP, Tian Tan, Copenhagen, Western Reserve, or Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA). In some embodiments, the solid tumor is glioblastoma, breast carcinoma, lung carcinoma, prostate carcinoma, colon carcinoma, ovarian carcinoma, neuroblastoma, central nervous system tumor, or melanoma. In some embodiments, the stem cell and the smallpox vaccine are simultaneously administered to the subject by intratumoral, intravenous, intraperitoneal, intrathecal, intraventricular, intraarticular, or intraocular injection. In some embodiments, the stem cell and the smallpox vaccine are housed in the same vessel prior to injection into the subject. In some embodiments, the method further comprises concurrently administering a genetically engineered virus to the subject. In some embodiments, the subject is human. In some embodiments, the subject is a pediatric patient. In some embodiments, the proliferative disease is a childhood or pediatric tumor or cancer.

In some embodiments, disclosed herein is a method of treating a proliferative disease in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a smallpox vaccine concurrently with an adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction (SVF). In some embodiments, the adipose-derived SVF is autologous. In some embodiments, the adipose-derived SVF is administered to the subject within 24 hours of adipose tissue being taken from the subject. In some embodiments, the smallpox vaccine is administered by intratumoral, intravenous, intraperitoneal, intrathecal, intraventricular, intraarticular, or intraocular injection. In some embodiments, the adipose-derived SVF is removed from the subject via the Time Machine™ device. In some embodiments, the adipose-derived SVF is removed using from the subject with a 2.5 to 3 mM cannula. In some embodiments, the smallpox vaccine is an attenuated New York City Board of Health (NYCBOH) strain of vaccinia virus. In some embodiments, the NYCBOH strain of vaccinia virus may be ATCC VR-118 or CJ-MVB-SPX. In some embodiments, the smallpox vaccine is selected from Dryvax, ACAM1000, ACAM2000, Lister, EM63, LIVP, Tian Tan, Copenhagen, Western Reserve, or Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA). In some embodiments, the solid tumor is glioblastoma, breast carcinoma, lung carcinoma, prostate carcinoma, colon carcinoma, ovarian carcinoma, neuroblastoma, central nervous system tumor, or melanoma. In some embodiments, the subject is human. In some embodiments, the subject is a pediatric patient. In some embodiments, the proliferative disease is a childhood or pediatric tumor or cancer.

Disclosed herein, in some embodiments, is a method of treating a proliferative disease, e.g., solid tumor or a hematological malignancy, in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a smallpox vaccine concurrently with a carrier cell. In some embodiments, the carrier cell is an autologous cell from the subject. In some embodiments, the carrier cell is an immune cell selected from a granulocyte, a mast cell, a monocyte, a dendritic cell, a natural killer cell, and a lymphocyte. In some embodiments, the immune cell is a lymphocyte. In some embodiments, the lymphocyte is a T cell. In some embodiments, the carrier cell comprises heterologous nucleic acid. In some embodiments, the smallpox vaccine and the carrier cell are cultured together in vitro prior to administration to the subject. In some embodiments, smallpox vaccine and the carrier cell are housed in the same vessel prior to administration into the subject. In some embodiments, the subject is human. In some embodiments, the subject is a pediatric patient. In some embodiments, the proliferative disease is a childhood or pediatric tumor or cancer.

Disclosed herein, in some embodiments, is a composition comprising: (a) smallpox vaccine and (b) a stem cell. In some embodiments, the composition further includes a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In some embodiments, the stem cell is selected from is selected from the group consisting of adult stem cells, embryonic stem cells, fetal stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, neural stem cells, totipotent stem cells, pluripotent stem cells, multipotent stem cells, oligopotent stem cells, unipotent stem cells, adipose stromal cells, endothelial stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, bone marrow stem cells, cord blood stem cells, adult peripheral blood stem cells, myoblast stem cells, small juvenile stem cells, skin fibroblast stem cells, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the stem cell is an adipose stromal cell. In some embodiments, the stem cell is a modified stem cell. In some embodiments, the modified stem cell is an adult stem cell. In some embodiments, the modified stem cell is transformed with a lenti-virus or retrovirus. In some embodiments, the modified stem cell is transiently transfected with an artificial chromosome, virus or plasmid DNA. In some embodiments, the smallpox vaccine does not comprise heterologous nucleic acid. In some embodiments, the composition further comprises a genetically engineered virus.

Disclosed herein, in some embodiments, is a composition comprising: (a) smallpox vaccine; and (b) an immune cell, such as a granulocyte, a mast cell, a monocyte, a dendritic cell, a natural killer cell, or a lymphocyte. In some embodiments, the composition further includes a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In some embodiments, the immune cell is a lymphocyte. In some embodiments, the lymphocyte is a T cell. In some embodiments, the immune cell comprises heterologous nucleic acid.

Disclosed herein, in some embodiments, is a composition comprising: (a) smallpox vaccine; and (b) isolated adipose stromal vascular fraction (SVF).

Further disclosed herein, in some embodiments, is a host cell, or a tumor cell, or a mammalian organism comprising a composition of any of the compositions including smallpox vaccine and a stem cell; or including smallpox vaccine and an immune cell selected from a granulocyte, a mast cell, a monocyte, a dendritic cell, a natural killer cell, and a lymphocyte; or including smallpox vaccine and an isolated adipose stromal vascular fraction (SVF).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B show the oncolysis effect on a panel of human tumor cell lines after infection with Lister and ACAM2000 virus strains, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In spite of great advances in anticancer treatments over the past 30 years, cancer remains the leading cause of death around the world. Provided herein are methods and compositions for treating a tumor, cancer or metastasis in a subject, such as a human subject or an animal subject. Specifically, disclosed herein are methods and compositions for activating the body's own immune system to fight cancer by administration of a smallpox vaccine.

Definitions

As used herein, a subject includes any animal for which diagnosis, screening, monitoring or treatment is contemplated. Animals include mammals such as primates and domesticated animals. Preferably, the primate is human. A patient refers to a subject such as a mammal, primate, human, or livestock subject afflicted with a disease condition or for which a disease condition is to be determined or risk of a disease condition is to be determined.

As used herein, a “pediatric patient” refers to persons who are age 21 years or younger at the time of their diagnosis or treatment. In some embodiments, a pediatric patient can be selected from a neonate, an infant, a child, and an adolescent. A “neonate” refers to persons from birth through the first 38 days of life. An “infant” refers to persons 29 days of age to less than two years of age. A “child” refers to persons two years of age to less than 12 years of age. An “adolescent” refers to persons 12 years of age through 21 years of age (up to, but not including, the twenty-second birthday). In some embodiments, a pediatric patient is greater than 12 months in age. In some embodiments, a pediatric patient is less than 18 years in age.

As used herein, the term “concurrently” as referring to administration of a smallpox vaccine and a cell, refers to administration within 48 hours of each other. In some embodiments, the smallpox vaccine and cell are administered within 36 hours of each other, within 24 hours of each other, within 12 hours of each other, within 10 hours of each other, within 8 hours of each other, within 6 hours of each other, within 4 hours of each other, within two hours of each other, within 1 hour of each other.

The term “autologous,” “autologous cell” or “autologous transplantation” as used herein in relation to cell transplantation indicates that the donor and recipient of the cells is the same individual. The term “allogenic,” “allogenic cell” or “allogenic transplantation” as used herein in relation to cell transplantation indicates that the donor and recipient of the cells are different individuals of the same species.

The term “adipose tissue” as used herein refers to body fat tissue, which is a loose connective tissue composed mostly of adipocytes. In addition to adipocytes, adipose tissue contains the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) of cells including preadipocytes, fibroblasts, vascular endothelial cells, a variety of immune cells, as well as regenerative stem cells.

The term “adipose stem cell” or “adipose-derived adult stem cell (ADASC)” as used herein refers to stem cells isolatable from adipose tissues, which are pluripotent stem cells capable of differentiation into numerous cell types. Adipose stem cells are found to be equivalent, if not superior to, bone marrow stem cells in terms of cell differentiation potential, angiogenesis and anti-inflammatory effects.

The term “tumor” or “tumor cell,” as used herein, refers to any type of tumor, including solid tumors or non-solid tumors, dispersed tumors, metastatic or disseminated tumors, or tumor cells from any form of tumor.

The term “vaccine” as used herein, refers to any type of biological preparation contributing to or soliciting active immune responses against a particular disease or pathogen. Such biological preparation can include, but is not limited to, an antigen derived from a disease-causing agent or a portion of an antigen derived from a disease-causing agent. Such biological preparation can also be in the form of live attenuated preparation, including live, or weakened or modified disease causing agents or pathogens; or in the form of inactivated or killed disease-causing agents or pathogens. Alternative forms of such biological preparation further include, but are not limited to, the forms of subunit, toxoid, conjugate, DNA and recombinant vectors, or any suitable forms that might become developed or available in the future for soliciting active immune responses thereagainst.

It should be noted that in some embodiments, while the term “vaccine” is used herein, the vaccine need not provide significant immunity against smallpox (or any other pathogen), so long as it is effective against a cancer or proliferative disease as described herein. For example, the vaccine may be any immunogenic or infectious composition that treats the cancer. In some cases, the term is used to identify certain materials or compositions, and not necessarily the ability of material or composition to provide immunity against smallpox, for example. In some embodiments the composition or material that is administered can be a virus that elicits an immunogenic response against a tumor cell, and or one that elicits an immunogenic response against smallpox. The virus can be from any strain of virus, including for example, one or more listed below and elsewhere herein, including those that are not part of approved or contemplated vaccines.

As used herein, “virus” refers to any of a large group of entities referred to as viruses. Viruses typically contain a protein coat surrounding an RNA or DNA core of genetic material, but no semipermeable membrane, and are capable of growth and multiplication only in living cells. Viruses for use in the methods provided herein include, but are not limited, to a poxvirus, adenovirus, herpes simplex virus, Newcastle disease virus, vesicular stomatitis virus, mumps virus, influenza virus, measles virus, reovirus, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hanta virus, myxoma virus, cytomegalovirus (CMV), lentivirus, and any plant or insect virus.

As used herein, “hematologic malignancy” refers to tumors of the blood and lymphatic system (e.g. Hodgkin's disease, Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Burkitt's lymphoma, AIDS-related lymphomas, malignant immunoproliferative diseases, multiple myeloma and malignant plasma cell neoplasms, lymphoid leukemia, myeloid leukemia, acute or chronic lymphocytic leukemia, monocytic leukemia, other leukemias of specified cell type, leukemia of unspecified cell type, other and unspecified malignant neoplasms of lymphoid, hematopoietic and related tissues, for example diffuse large cell lymphoma, T-cell lymphoma or cutaneous T-cell lymphoma).

As used herein, “heterologous nucleic acid” refers to a nucleic acid, DNA or RNA, which has been introduced into a virus or a cell (or the cell's ancestor). Such heterologous nucleic acid may comprise the sequence and operable regulatory elements for genes. For example, the heterologous nucleic acid may comprise a selection marker gene, a suicide gene, or a gene expressing a useful protein product that is not expressed endogenously, or expressed endogenously at low levels.

Smallpox Vaccines and Anti-Cancer Compositions

Disclosed herein, in some embodiments, is a method for treating a solid tumor or hematologic malignancy in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a smallpox vaccine, other smallpox immunogenic composition, or other composition (immunogenic or otherwise) that is capable of eliciting a similar response. Although the terms smallpox vaccines may be used throughout, it should be understood that other compositions that may not formally be approved or designated “vaccines” compositions can be used instead. For example, other smallpox immunogenic compositions or other immunogenic compositions can be used. In some embodiments, the smallpox vaccine does not comprise heterologous nucleic acid. In some embodiments, the smallpox vaccine is administered by intratumoral, intravenous, intraperitoneal, intrathecal, intraventricular, intraarticular, or intraocular injection, or intradermal injection, or any suitable methods delivering thereof.

Variola virus is the cause of smallpox. In contrast to variola virus, vaccinia virus, which has been used for smallpox vaccination, does not normally cause systemic disease in immune-competent individuals and it has therefore been used as a live vaccine to immunize against smallpox. Successful worldwide vaccination with Vaccinia virus culminated in the eradication of smallpox as a natural disease in the 1980s. Since then, vaccination has been discontinued for many years, except for people at higher risk of poxvirus infections (e.g., laboratory workers). Although the United States discontinued routine childhood immunization against smallpox in 1972, the use of smallpox vaccine is generally considered safe for pediatric use.

In some embodiments, an attenuated strain derived from a pathogenic virus is used for the manufacturing of a live vaccine. Non-limiting examples of viral strains that have been used as a smallpox vaccine include but are not limited to the Lister (also known as Elstree), New York City Board of Health (“NYCBH strain”), Dairen, Ikeda, LC16M8, Western Reserve (WR), Copenhagen, Tashkent, Tian Tan, Wyeth, IHD-J, and IHD-W, Brighton, Ankara, MVA, Dairen I, LIPV, LC16MO, LIVP, WR 65-16, EM63, and Connaught strains. In some embodiments, the smallpox vaccine utilized in the methods disclosed herein is an attenuated New York City Board of Health (NYCBOH) strain of vaccinia virus. In some embodiments, the NYCBOH strain of vaccinia virus may be ATCC VR-118 or CJ-MVB-SPX.

In some embodiments, the smallpox vaccine is non-attenuated.

In some embodiments, the smallpox vaccine is selected from Dryvax, ACAM1000, ACAM2000, Lister, EM63, LIVP, Tian Tan, Copenhagen, Western Reserve, or Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA). In some embodiments, the smallpox vaccine is not deficient in any genes present in one or more of these strains.

In some embodiments, the smallpox vaccine is a replication competent virus. In some embodiments, the smallpox vaccine is replication deficient.

The methods disclosed herein can be used to treat any solid tumor or hematologic malignancy. Tumors that can be treated by the methods disclosed herein include, but are not limited to a bladder tumor, breast tumor, prostate tumor, carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, biliary tract cancer, bladder cancer, bone cancer, brain cancer, CNS cancer, glioma tumor, cervical cancer, choriocarcinoma, colon and rectum cancer, connective tissue cancer, cancer of the digestive system, endometrial cancer, esophageal cancer, eye cancer, cancer of the head and neck, gastric cancer, intra-epithelial neoplasm, kidney cancer, larynx cancer, leukemia, liver cancer, lung cancer, lymphoma, Hodgkin's lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, melanoma, myeloma, neuroblastoma, oral cavity cancer, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, retinoblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, rectal cancer, renal cancer, cancer of the respiratory system, sarcoma, skin cancer, stomach cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid cancer, uterine cancer, and cancer of the urinary system, such as lymphosarcoma, osteosarcoma, mammary tumors, mastocytoma, brain tumor, melanoma, adenosquamous carcinoma, carcinoid lung tumor, bronchial gland tumor, bronchiolar adenocarcinoma, small cell lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancers, fibroma, myxochondroma, pulmonary sarcoma, neurosarcoma, osteoma, papilloma, retinoblastoma, Ewing's sarcoma, Wilms' tumor, Burkitt's lymphoma, microglioma, neuroblastoma, osteoclastoma, oral neoplasia, fibrosarcoma, osteosarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma, genital squamous cell carcinoma, transmissible venereal tumor, testicular tumor, seminoma, Sertoli cell tumor, hemangiopericytoma, histiocytoma, chloroma, granulocytic sarcoma, corneal papilloma, corneal squamous cell carcinoma, hemangiosarcoma, pleural mesothelioma, basal cell tumor, thymoma, stomach tumor, adrenal gland carcinoma, oral papillomatosis, hemangioendothelioma, cystadenoma, follicular lymphoma, intestinal lymphosarcoma, fibrosarcoma, and pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma, leukemia, hemangiopericytoma, ocular neoplasia, preputial fibrosarcoma, ulcerative squamous cell carcinoma, preputial carcinoma, connective tissue neoplasia, mastocytoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, lymphoma, pulmonary adenomatosis, pulmonary sarcoma, Rous sarcoma, reticulo-endotheliosis, fibrosarcoma, nephroblastoma, B-cell lymphoma, lymphoid leukosis, retinoblastoma, hepatic neoplasia, lymphosarcoma, plasmacytoid leukemia, swim bladder sarcoma (in fish), caseous lumphadenitis, lung carcinoma, insulinoma, lymphoma, sarcoma, salivary gland tumors, neuroma, pancreatic islet cell tumor, gastric MALT lymphoma and gastric adenocarcinoma.

In some embodiments, the tumor is selected from metastatic melanoma; esophageal and gastric adenocarcinoma; cholangiocarcinoma (any stage); pancreatic adenocarcinoma (any stage); gallbladder cancer (any stage); high-grade mucinous appendix cancer (any stage); high-grade gastrointestinal neuroendocrine cancer (any stage); mesothelioma (any stage); soft tissue sarcoma; prostate cancer; renal cell carcinoma; lung small cell carcinoma; lung non-small cell carcinoma; head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; colorectal cancer; ovarian carcinoma; hepatocellular carcinoma; and glioblastoma.

In some embodiments, the tumor is selected from: glioblastoma, breast carcinoma, lung carcinoma, prostate carcinoma, colon carcinoma, ovarian carcinoma, neuroblastoma, central nervous system tumor, and melanoma.

In some embodiments, the tumor or cancer that can be treated is a childhood or pediatric tumor or cancer. For example, the tumor or cancer can be a leukemia, a lymphoma, a sarcoma, and the like. Non-limiting examples of leukemia include acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Non-limiting examples of types of lymphomas include Hodgkin disease (or Hodgkin lymphoma) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (e.g., B and T cell lymphomas). Non-limiting examples of solid tumors or cancers for pediatric patients include brain tumors. Ewing Sarcoma, eye cancer (retinoblastoma), germ cell tumors, Kidney tumors (e.g., Wilms Tumor), liver cancer, neuroblastoma, osteosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, skin cancer (e.g., melanoma), soft tissue sarcoma and thyroid cancer. In some embodiments, the subject is human. In some embodiments, the subject is a pediatric patient. In some embodiments, the subject is a neonate. In some embodiments, the subject is an infant. In some embodiments, the subject is a child. In some embodiments, the subject is an adolescent. In some embodiments, the subject is greater than 12 months in age. In some embodiments the subject is ales than 18 years in age.

Smallpox Vaccine and Composition Carriers

Immunogenic cell death inducers, like viruses, are subject to significant elimination and/or neutralization following systemic application. Therefore, in some embodiments, disclosed herein are suitable vehicles for shielding the disclosed smallpox vaccines from the elements of the humoral and cellular immunity in the blood stream, as well as methods for their targeted delivery to tumor sites.

Thus, in some embodiments, disclosed herein is a method of treating a solid tumor or a hematological malignancy in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a smallpox vaccine concurrently with a carrier cell. In some embodiments, the carrier cell is an autologous cell from the subject. In other embodiments the cell can be non-autologous or allogeneic.

In some embodiments, the carrier cell is an insect cell, a reptile cell, an amphibian cell, an avian cell or a mammalian cell. In some embodiments, the carrier cell is an immortalized cell. In some embodiments, the carrier cell is a neoplastic cell derived from a tumor. In some embodiments, the carrier is a human cell.

In some embodiments, the smallpox vaccine, or other composition as described herein, and the carrier cell are administered simultaneously. In some embodiments, the smallpox vaccine and the carrier cell are administered simultaneously through one administration vehicle. In some embodiments, the smallpox vaccine and the carrier cell are administered simultaneously through one vessel, e.g. a syringe, via intratumoral, intravenous, intraperitoneal, intrathecal, intraventricular, intraarticular, or intraocular injection or intradermal injection, or any suitable methods delivering thereof.

Stem Cells

Recent studies have demonstrated extensive homing of stem cells to glioma tumors and the potential of gene loading into stem cells using viral vectors. These studies indicate that the stem cells are a promising candidate as a vehicle for delivery of the anti-cancer agent to the tumor sites.

Accordingly, disclosed herein, in some embodiments, is the use of stem cells as a vehicle for in vivo delivery of smallpox vaccine to the cancer cells or tumor. In some embodiments, the smallpox vaccine is mixed with the vehicle stem cells to avoid the immune system from clearing the virus before the virus reaches the tumor. Thus, in some embodiments, disclosed herein is a method for treating a solid tumor or hematologic malignancy in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a smallpox vaccine concurrently with a stem cell. In some embodiments, the smallpox vaccine does not comprise heterologous nucleic acid. In some embodiments, the method further comprises concurrently administering a genetically engineered virus to the subject. Some embodiments relate to methods of preparing the preparing the stem cell and smallpox vaccine compositions prior to administration.

In some embodiments, the vehicle stem cell is an autologous stem cell. In others it is non-autologous or allogeneic.

In some embodiments, the vehicle stem cells are selected from the group consisting of adult stem cells, embryonic stem cells, fetal stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, neural stem cells, totipotent stem cells, pluripotent stem cells, multipotent stem cells, oligopotent stem cells, unipotent stem cells, adipose stromal cells, endothelial stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, bone marrow stem cells, cord blood stem cells, adult peripheral blood stem cells, myoblast stem cells, small juvenile stem cells, skin fibroblast stem cells, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the modified stem cell is an umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal like cell. In some embodiments, the umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal-like cell is an Immstem™ cell. In some embodiments, the stem cell is an adipose stromal cell. One or more of the above-listed cells can be specifically excluded from some embodied compositions and methods.

In some embodiments, the vehicle stem cells are modified. Particularly, in some embodiments, the modified stem cell is an adult stem cell (ASC). In some embodiments, the modified stem cell is transformed with a viral vector. In some embodiments, the modified stem cell is transformed with a lenti-virus or retrovirus. In some embodiments, the modified stem cell is transformed with the recombinant virus. In some embodiments, the modified stem cell is transiently transfected with an artificial chromosome, virus or plasmid DNA. In some embodiments, the virus is an oncolytic virus. In some embodiments, the virus is a vaccinia virus. In some embodiments, the virus is a replication-competent oncolytic vaccinia virus (VACV). In some embodiments, the modified stem cell is capable of localizing to the tumor. In some embodiments, the modified stem cell is autologous. In some embodiments, the modified stem cell is allogeneic.

In some embodiments, the modified stem cell is an adult stem cell. In some embodiments, the modified stem cell is transformed with a lenti-virus or retrovirus. In some embodiments, the modified stem cell is transiently transfected with an artificial chromosome, virus or plasmid DNA. In some embodiments, the modified stem cell is capable of localizing to the tumor. In some embodiments, the modified stem cell is autologous. In some embodiments, the modified stem cell is allogeneic. In some embodiments, the modified stem cell is selected from the group consisting of adult stem cells, embryonic stem cells, fetal stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, neural stem cells, totipotent stem cells, pluripotent stem cells, multipotent stem cells, oligopotent stem cells, unipotent stem cells, adipose stromal cells, endothelial stem cells, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the modified stem cell is an umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal like cell. In some embodiments, the umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal-like cell is an Immstem™ cell.

Immstem are umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal-like cells, which possess pluripotent differentiation capacity and are characterized by unique surface markers and growth factor production. ImmStem possess numerous advantages compared to other stem cell sources, including ease of collection, higher rate of proliferation, very low immunogenicity, and ability to differentiate into tissues representative of all three germ layer components. In comparison to other mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) subtypes, ImmStem has demonstrated upregulated anti-inflammatory and migratory capacity due to a “cytokine priming” step, which is performed prior to administration. ImmStem cells are generated from human umbilical cords, which are obtained from full term women immediately after delivery. To stimulate a stress response, the cells are cultured for about 48 hours with interferon gamma. In some embodiments the culturing with IFN-gamma can be from 1 to 72 hours or any value or sub range therein.

In some embodiments, the smallpox vaccine and/or the stem cell are administered to a subject by any suitable method of administration. In some embodiments, the smallpox vaccine and/or the stem cell are administered by intratumoral, intravenous, intraperitoneal, intrathecal, intraventricular, intraarticular, or intraocular injection.

In some embodiments, the smallpox vaccine and the stem cell are administered simultaneously. In some embodiments, the smallpox vaccine and the stem cell are administered simultaneously through one administration vehicle. In some embodiments, the smallpox vaccine and the stem cell are administered simultaneously through one vessel, e.g., a syringe, via intratumoral, intravenous, intraperitoneal, intrathecal, intraventricular, intraarticular, or intraocular injection or intradermal injection, or any suitable methods delivering thereof.

In some embodiments, the tumor is selected from metastatic melanoma; esophageal and gastric adenocarcinoma; cholangiocarcinoma (any stage); pancreatic adenocarcinoma (any stage); gallbladder cancer (any stage); high-grade mucinous appendix cancer (any stage); high-grade gastrointestinal neuroendocrine cancer (any stage); mesothelioma (any stage); soft tissue sarcoma; prostate cancer; renal cell carcinoma; lung small cell carcinoma; lung non-small cell carcinoma; head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; colorectal cancer; ovarian carcinoma; hepatocellular carcinoma; and glioblastoma.

In some embodiments, the tumor is selected from: glioblastoma, breast carcinoma, lung carcinoma, prostate carcinoma, colon carcinoma, ovarian carcinoma, neuroblastoma, central nervous system tumor, and melanoma. In some embodiments, one or more of the listed tumor, cancer or malignancies can be specifically excluded from the herein described compositions and/or methods.

Immune Cells

Further disclosed herein, in some embodiments, is the use of immune cells as a vehicle for in vivo delivery of smallpox vaccine to the cancer cells or tumor. In some embodiments, the anticancer agent is mixed with the vehicle immune carrier cells to avoid the immune system from clearing the virus before the virus reaches the tumor. Thus, in some embodiments, disclosed herein is a method of treating a solid tumor or a hematological malignancy in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a smallpox vaccine concurrently with an immune cell selected from a granulocyte, a mast cell, a monocyte, a dendritic cell, a natural killer cell, and a lymphocyte. In some embodiments, the immune cell is an autologous cell. In some embodiments, the immune cell is a lymphocyte. In some embodiments, the lymphocyte is a T cell. In some embodiments, the immune cell comprises heterologous nucleic acid. In some embodiments, the smallpox vaccine and immune cell are cultured together in vitro together prior to administration to the subject.

In some embodiments, the smallpox vaccine and the immune cell are administered simultaneously. In some embodiments, the smallpox vaccine and the immune cell are administered simultaneously through one administration vehicle. In some embodiments, the smallpox vaccine and the immune cell are administered simultaneously through one vessel, e.g. a syringe, via intratumoral, intravenous, intraperitoneal, intrathecal, intraventricular, intraarticular, or intraocular injection or intradeiinal injection, or any suitable methods delivering thereof.

In some embodiments, the tumor is selected from metastatic melanoma; esophageal and gastric adenocarcinoma; cholangiocarcinoma (any stage); pancreatic adenocarcinoma (any stage); gallbladder cancer (any stage); high-grade mucinous appendix cancer (any stage); high-grade gastrointestinal neuroendocrine cancer (any stage); mesothelioma (any stage); soft tissue sarcoma; prostate cancer; renal cell carcinoma; lung small cell carcinoma; lung non-small cell carcinoma; head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; colorectal cancer; ovarian carcinoma; hepatocellular carcinoma; and glioblastoma. In some embodiments, one or more of the listed tumor, cancer or malignancies can be specifically excluded from the herein described compositions and/or methods.

In some embodiments, the tumor is selected from: glioblastoma, breast carcinoma, lung carcinoma, prostate carcinoma, colon carcinoma, ovarian carcinoma, neuroblastoma, central nervous system tumor, and melanoma.

Adipose Stromal Vascular Fraction

Disclosed herein, in some embodiments, is a method of treating a proliferative disease in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a smallpox vaccine concurrently with an adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction (SVF), wherein the adipose-derived SVF is autologous. In some embodiments, the adipose-derived SVF is administered to the subject within about 24 hours of adipose tissue being taken from the subject. In some embodiments the adipose-derived SVF can be administered at any time after collection and up to about 48 hours post collection, or any time point or time sub range there between. In some embodiments, the smallpox vaccine is administered by intratumoral, intravenous, intraperitoneal, intrathecal, intraventricular, intraarticular, or intraocular injection or intradermal injection, or any suitable methods delivering thereof.

Adipose tissue is an alternative to bone marrow as a source of stem cells for the following reasons: a) extraction of adipose derived cells is a simpler, less invasive procedure than bone marrow extraction; b) adipose tissue contains a higher content of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) as compared to bone marrow; c) MSC from adipose tissue do not decrease in number with aging and can therefore serve as an autologous cell source for all patients; and d) adipose tissue is also a source of unique cell populations in addition to MSC that have therapeutic potential, including endothelial cells and regulatory T cells.

MSC are poorly immunogenic and possess immune modulatory activity, features that are conserved among MSC from various tissues. This weak immunogenicity is believed to permit the survival and activity of allogeneic MSC when administered therapeutically.

In addition to its stem/progenitor cell content, the adipose-derived SVF is known to contain, inter alia, monocytes/macrophages and endothelial cells.

SVF derived from whole lipoaspirate alleviates the need for extensive processing of the cells within, thereby minimizing the number of steps where contamination could be introduced (Kurita et al., Plast Reconstr Surg 2008, 121:1033-1041; discussion 1042-1033; Yoshimura et al., Aesthetic Plast Surg 2008, 32:48-55; discussion 56-47). The safety of administration of adipose-derived cells is supported by autologous fat grafting, a common practice in cosmetic surgery (Hang-Fu et al., Aesthetic Plast Surg 1995, 19:427-437). Each of the aforementioned references is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

In some embodiments, the adipose-derived SVF is obtained by means and knowledge known to one of skill in the art. In some embodiments, the adipose-derived SVF is removed from the subject via the Time Machine™ device. In some embodiment, the adipose-derived SVF is removed from the subject with a 2.5 to 3 mM cannula. In some embodiments one or more of the following devices can be utilized, PNC's Multi Station, CHA Biotech Cha-Station, Cytori Celution® 800/CRS System, and Medi-Khan's Lipokit with MaxStem.

In some embodiments, the smallpox vaccine and the adipose-derived SVF are administered concurrently. In some embodiments, the smallpox vaccine and the adipose-derived SVF are administered simultaneously. In some embodiments, the smallpox vaccine and the adipose-derived SVF are administered simultaneously through one administration vehicle. In some embodiments, the smallpox vaccine and the adipose-derived SVF are administered simultaneously through one vessel, e.g. a syringe, via intratumoral, intravenous, intraperitoneal, intrathecal, intraventricular, intraarticular, or intraocular injection or intradermal injection, or any suitable methods delivering thereof.

In some embodiments, the tumor is selected from metastatic melanoma; esophageal and gastric adenocarcinoma; cholangiocarcinoma (any stage); pancreatic adenocarcinoma (any stage); gallbladder cancer (any stage); high-grade mucinous appendix cancer (any stage); high-grade gastrointestinal neuroendocrine cancer (any stage); mesothelioma (any stage); soft tissue sarcoma; prostate cancer; renal cell carcinoma; lung small cell carcinoma; lung non-small cell carcinoma; head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; colorectal cancer; ovarian carcinoma; hepatocellular carcinoma; and glioblastoma. One or more of the above-mentioned tumors can be specifically excluded from the compositions and methods of some embodiments.

In some embodiments, the tumor is selected from: glioblastoma, breast carcinoma, lung carcinoma, prostate carcinoma, colon carcinoma, ovarian carcinoma, neuroblastoma, central nervous system tumor, and melanoma. One or more of the above-mentioned tumors can be specifically excluded from the compositions and methods of some embodiments.

Compositions

Disclosed herein are various compositions useful in the methods disclosed herein of treating a solid tumor or hematological malignancy.

In some embodiments, disclosed herein is a composition comprising a smallpox vaccine and a carrier cell, as disclosed herein.

In some embodiments, disclosed herein is a composition comprising: (a) smallpox vaccine; and (b) a stem cell. In some embodiments, the stem cell is selected from the group consisting of adult stem cells, embryonic stem cells, fetal stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, neural stem cells, totipotent stem cells, pluripotent stem cells, multipotent stem cells, oligopotent stem cells, unipotent stem cells, adipose stromal cells, endothelial stem cells, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the stem cell is an adipose stromal cell. In some embodiments, the stem cell is a modified stem cell. In some embodiments, the modified stem cell is an adult stem cell. In some embodiments, the modified stem cell is transformed with a lenti-virus or retrovirus. In some embodiments, wherein the modified stem cell is transiently transfected with an artificial chromosome, virus or plasmid DNA. In some embodiments, the smallpox vaccine does not comprise heterologous nucleic acid. In some embodiments, the composition further comprises a genetically engineered virus. One or more of the above-mentioned components can be specifically excluded from the compositions and methods of some embodiments.

In some embodiments, disclosed herein is a composition comprising: (a) smallpox vaccine; and (b) an immune cell selected from a granulocyte, a mast cell, a monocyte, a dendritic cell, a natural killer cell, and a lymphocyte. In some embodiments, the immune cell is a lymphocyte.

In some embodiments, the lymphocyte is a T cell. In some embodiments, the immune cell comprises heterologous nucleic acid.

In some embodiments, disclosed herein is a composition comprising: (a) smallpox vaccine; and (b) isolated adipose stromal vascular fraction (SVF).

In some embodiments, the compositions disclosed herein comprise a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. As used herein, the term “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” refers to solvents, diluents, preservatives, dispersion or suspension aids, isotonic agents, thickening or emulsifying agents, solid binders, and lubricants, appropriate for the particular dosage form. The skilled artisan is aware of a variety of different carriers that may be used in formulating pharmaceutical compositions and knows techniques for the preparation thereof (See Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences Ed. by Gennaro, Mack Publishing, Easton, Pa., 1995; which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference). The pharmaceutically acceptable carriers may include, but are not limited to Ringer's solution, isotonic saline, starches, potato starch, sugars, glucose, powdered tragacant, malt, gelatin, talc, cellulose and its derivatives, ethyl cellulose, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate excipients, cocoa butter, suppository waxes, agar, alginic acid, oils, cottonseed oil, peanut oil, safflower oil, sesame oil, olive oil, soybean oil, corn oil, glycols, propylene glycol, esters, ethyl laurate, ethyl oleate, buffering agents, aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, phosphate buffer solutions, pyrogen-free water, ethyl alcohol, other non-toxic compatible lubricants, sodium lauryl sulfate, magnesium stearate, coloring agents, releasing agents, coating agents, sweetening, flavoring and perfuming agents. Pharmaceutically acceptable carriers may also include preservatives and antioxidants. One or more of the above-mentioned materials can be specifically excluded from the compositions and methods of some embodiments.

A composition disclosed herein comprising a live smallpox vaccine may comprise an adjuvant. Optionally, one or more compounds having adjuvant activity may be included in the vaccine. Adjuvants are non-specific stimulators of the immune system. They enhance the immune response of the host to the vaccine. Examples of adjuvants known in the art are Freund's Complete and Incomplete adjuvant, vitamin E, non-ionic block polymers, muramyldipeptides, ISCOMs (immune stimulating complexes), saponins, mineral oil, vegetable oil, and Carbopol. Adjuvants, especially suitable for mucosal application are, for example, E. coli heat-labile toxin (LT) or Cholera toxin (CT). Other suitable adjuvants are for example aluminium hydroxide, aluminium phosphate or aluminium oxide, oil-emulsions (e.g., of Bayol F® or Marcol 52®, saponins or vitamin-E solubilisate). One or more of the above-mentioned materials can be specifically excluded from the compositions and methods of some embodiments.

Administration of Treatment Modalities

The effective dosage of each of the treatment modalities disclosed herein may vary depending on various factors, including but not limited to the particular treatment, compound or pharmaceutical composition employed, the mode of administration, the condition being treated, and/or the severity of the condition being treated. Thus, the dosage regimen of the combination of the invention is selected in accordance with a variety of factors including the route of administration and the renal and hepatic function of the patient. A physician, clinician or veterinarian of ordinary skill can readily determine and prescribe the effective amount of the single active ingredients required to prevent, counter or arrest the progress of the condition. Optimal precision in achieving concentration of the active ingredients within the range that yields efficacy without toxicity requires a regimen based on the kinetics of the active ingredients' availability to target sites.

Methods of preparing pharmaceutical compositions comprising the relevant treatments disclosed herein are known in the art and will be apparent from the art, from known standard references, such as Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mack Publishing Company, Easton, Pa., 18th edition (1990), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

In some embodiments, the smallpox vaccine and/or cells disclosed herein are administered to a subject by any appropriate method. In some embodiments, the smallpox vaccine and/or cells disclosed herein are administered by intratumoral, intravenous, intraperitoneal, intrathecal, intraventricular, intraarticular, intraocular, or intradermal injection, or any suitable methods delivering thereof.

The amount of vaccine administered to an average-sized adult can be, for example, 1×10² to 1×10¹⁰ plaque-forming units, 1×10³ to 1×10⁸ plaque-forming units 1×10⁴ to 1×10⁶ plaque-forming units, or any value or sub range there between. As a specific example, about 2.5×10⁵ plaque-forming units can be used.

It should be understood that the embodiments described herein are not limited to vaccinations or vaccinating per se, but also relate to generating an immune response or reaction to cancer cells. While the words “vaccine,” “vaccination,” or other like terms are used for convenience, it should be understood that such embodiments also relate to immune compositions, immunogenic compositions, immune response generation, immunization, etc., where absolute prophylactic immunity is not required or generated. For example, the embodiments referring to vaccination also can relate to generating or to assisting in creating an immunogenic or immune response against a tumor cell or tumor, regardless of whether that response results in absolute eradication or immunization against such tumor cell, tumor or the cancer.

The disclosures illustratively described herein may suitably be practiced in the absence of any element or elements, limitation or limitations, not specifically disclosed herein. Thus, for example, the terms “comprising,” “including,” containing,” etc. shall be read expansively and without limitation. Additionally, the terms and expressions employed herein have been used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the disclosure claimed.

Other embodiments are set forth within the claims.

EXAMPLES Example 1: Preparation of ACAM2000 Vaccine

The vaccine vial should be removed from cold storage and brought to room temperature before reconstitution. The flip cap seals of the vaccine and diluent vials are removed, and each rubber stopper is wiped with an isopropyl alcohol swab and allowed to dry thoroughly.

Using aseptic technique and a sterile 1 mL syringe fitted with a 25 gauge×⅝″ needle (provided), draw up 0.3 mL of diluent and transfer the entire content of the syringe to the vaccine vial. Gently swirl to mix but try not to get product on the rubber stopper. The reconstituted vaccine should be a clear to slightly hazy, colorless to straw-colored liquid free from extraneous matter. Reconstituted vaccine should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration. If particulate matter or discoloration is observed, the vaccine should not be used and the vial should be disposed safely.

After reconstitution of the lyophilized preparation, each vial contains approximately 2.5-12.5×10⁷ plaque-forming units (pfu) of vaccinia virus (live). After reconstitution, ACAM2000 vaccine may be used within 6 to 8 hours if kept at room temperature (20-25° C., 68-77° F.). Unused, reconstituted ACAM2000 vaccine may be stored in a refrigerator (2-8° C., 36-46° F.) up to 30 days, after which it should be discarded as a biohazardous material.

Personnel preparing and administering the vaccine should wear surgical or protective gloves and avoid contact of vaccine with skin, eyes or mucous membranes.

The vaccine vial, its stopper, the diluent syringe, the vented needle used for reconstitution, the needle used for administration, and any material that came in contact with the vaccine should be discarded in leak-proof, puncture-proof biohazard containers. These containers should then be disposed of appropriately.

For vaccine application, gently swirl the vaccine vial to mix but try not to get product on the rubber stopper.

Using aseptic technique and a sterile 1 mL syringe fitted with a 25 gauge×⅝″ needle, draw up the entire content of the vial and transfer it to the labeled 20 cc syringe containing the SVF fraction.

Gently swirl to mix well and incubate the syringe at 37° C. for 2 to 4 hours.

Example 2: Retrieval and Preparation of Adipose Stromal Vascular Fraction

Patient will receive local anesthesia consisting of lidocaine 0.5% with epinephrine 1:400,000 with HCO3 8.4% titrated to pH of 7.4 (generally 5 cc of HCO3 in total volume of 60 cc) and undergoes sterile preparation. The patient then undergoes a liposuction procedure utilizing the Time-Machine™ device, fat processing unit (syringe) and 2.5-3 mm cannula. Bacitracin ointment and a band aid are secured over the wound along with a compressive bandage.

The SVF (ADSCs) are prepared in a closed system according to the following protocol:

-   -   a. TimeMachine® harvest of fat into 60 cc TP-101 syringe (single         use sterile fat processing syringe)     -   b. Centrifuge at 2800 rpm for 3 min.     -   c. Remove free fatty acids and debris (local/blood) via TP-109         closed system     -   d. Transfer 25 cc of condensed fat to TP-102 syringe (SVF         processing syringe)     -   e. Add pre-warmed (38° C.) 25 cc of Roche T-MAX® Time Machine         Accelerator (GMP grade collagenase) containing 12.5 Wunsch         units.     -   f. Incubate at 38° C. for 30-45 minutes.     -   g. Centrifuge at 200 g for 4 minutes     -   h. Remove supernatant fluid except for bottom 3-10 cc.     -   i. Add 50 cc D5LR as a washing solution to remove collagenase         residue and centrifuge at 200 g for 4 minutes.     -   j. Repeat 2 more times for a total of 3 washings.     -   k. Remove all supernatant fluid leaving 3-10 cc of pellet         collection—this is the Stromal Vascular Fraction.     -   l. Transfer SVF to labeled 20 cc syringe through 100-micron         filters.     -   m. SVF sample collected and identified for number of cells,         viability and to confirm no clumping or debris.     -   n. Aliquots of each cell suspension will be set aside for         endotoxin testing and sterility staining. SVF will only be         released for injection after confirmation of endotoxin assay         results of level of EU less than or equal to 5 EU/kg/hr and         negative gram stain results.     -   o. Cells will be resuspended in 20 ml of Isolyte. Cell         suspensions will be drawn into a syringe through an 18-gauge         needle for injection. Up to 100 million viable cells will be         used for injection.     -   p. The syringe will then be placed in a sealed specimen bag         labeled with the patient's name and medical record number for         transport to the procedure room for injection.

Example 3: Administration of Adipose SVF with Smallpox Vaccine

Deployment Methods:

a. Intravenous: the non-expanded, autologous stromal vascular fraction (SVF) extracted from up to 500 ml of lipoaspirate and purified by collagenase digestion and a series of washing steps and containing up to 100 million cells incubated with vaccinia virus will be delivered by intravenous injection in a volume of 20 mL. b. Intra-tumoral: The non-expanded, autologous stromal vascular fraction (SVF) extracted from up to 500 ml of lipoaspirate and purified by collagenase digestion and a series of washing steps and containing cells incubated with vaccinia virus will be delivered by intratumoral injection. The injection volume and number of injected cells will vary and will depend on tumor type and tumor size and location.

Example 4: Oncolysis of Human Tumor Cell Lines after Infection with Lister and ACAM2000 Virus Strains In Vitro and Comparison of Solid Tumor Regression in A549 and PC3 Tumor-Bearing Nude Mice Colonized with ACAM2000 or Lister Vaccinia Virus Strains In Vivo and Clinical Studies

In Vitro

To study comparatively the anti-tumoral activity of the smallpox vaccine ACAM2000, a panel of human cancer cell lines were infected with ACAM2000 and Lister virus strains at MOI of 0.01.

The breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231, lung adenocarcinoma cells A549 and NCI-H1299, prostate cancer cells PC3 and cervical cancer cells SiHa were seeded on 96-well plates 24 hours prior infection. The following day, cells were almost confluent and were infected with 50 μl of DMEM supplemented with 2% fetal bovine serum (FBS) containing appropriate amount of vaccinia virus (MOI of 0.01). Control cells were left untreated. After 1 hour of incubation the media were replaced with DMEM supplemented with 10% FBS. After 96 hours, tumor cell death was analyzed by MTT assay.

Cell death was measured 96 hours after infection with ACAM2000 or Lister Vaccinia virus (MOI of 0.01). Viability was measured by the colorimetric MTT assay. Optical density was measured at 570 nm. n=3. (A) Results are represented as percentage (%) of cell death normalized to untreated cells. (B) Table shows the comparison of ACAM2000 and Lister killing efficacy (+=1-25%, ++=26-50%, +++=51-75%, ++++=76-100%).

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, ACAM2000 virus strain killed all human cancer cell lines efficiently with the exception of NCI-H1299 at comparable outcome than Lister virus strain (FIGS. 1A and 1B). Similar data was obtained with Copenhagen, MVA and other selected vaccinia virus strains.

In Vivo

To further study comparatively the anti-tumoral activity of the smallpox vaccines ACAM2000 and Lister, A549 and PC-3 tumor cells were injected subcutaneously in nude mice. Once tumor reached a volume of 350 mm3, animals were treated with a retroorbital injection containing the virus inoculum (5×106 PFU) (n=5). Control tumor-bearing mice were injected with Saline buffer. Comparable tumor growth inhibition occurred with both vaccinia virus samples 20 days after injection in A549 tumor bearing mice, and 14 days after virus injection in PC-3 tumor bearing mice. (Data not shown).

Clinical

Twenty-five patients with advanced metastatic solid tumors and hematologic malignancies have been treated with autologous stem cells/vaccinia virus combination in the StemImmune's recent trial. None of the 25 patients in this trial experienced any side effects resulting from the stem cell/vaccinia virus administration. Specifically, no fever, chills, or any other virus-related side effects were reported, in contrast to such side effects observed 6-12 hours after the administration of naked virus without stem cells in previous clinical trials. Importantly, all patients in the current trial experienced tumor location-specific “burning sensation” approximately 1 to 3 weeks after the stem cell/oncolytic virus administration, demonstrating effective delivery of the virus to the tumor sites and successful infection of the targeted tumors. Tumor size reduction and complete tumor eradication has been observed in some of the patients.

Serial blood samples were obtained from the treated patients before treatment (baseline sample), as well as at day 1, week 1, month 1, month 3, and month 6 after the treatment. Analysis of these samples revealed effective induction of cytokine release approximately 1 week after the treatment. Importantly, flow cytometry analysis confirmed the induction of activated T cells and memory T cells within one month of the treatment.

In summary, these results confirmed the i) significant safety of this treatment without any treatment-related side effects; ii) documented efficacy with tumor size reduction and even tumor eradication in some patients; and iii) effective induction of cytokine release and significant cellular response following this treatment.

Example 5: Clinical Trial of Adipose SVF with Smallpox Vaccine Study Design

The study evaluates the safety of deployment of adipose-derived SVF combined with ACAM2000 (SVF/ACAM2000) in patients with advanced solid tumors, based upon patient evaluation of subjective and objective findings. The antitumor effects of the adipose-derived SVF/ACAM200 administration also are evaluated, along with the presence of vaccinia virus within malignant tumors after SVF/ACAM200 injection by examination of resected/biopsied tumor specimen when applicable. In addition, the anti-vaccinia and antitumor immune responses following administration of SVF/ACAM2000 also are assessed.

All deployment techniques (intravenous and intra-tumoral) will be categorized regardless of condition in order to obtain information about specific deployment techniques. The study will follow each patient to determine if there were any adverse events following treatment with SVF/ACAM2000.

Inclusion Criteria

Patients (≥18 years) with histologically proven, primary or recurrent, advanced (staging defined by the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC; 7th Edition) as stage III or IV, and/or aggressive (defined as published disease-specific survival rates less than 20% at 5 years following best currently available therapies) solid organ cancers.

Patients will provide written consent to allow a core needle biopsy samples of tumor tissue (primary or metastatic) to be obtained during baseline for analysis of mutations associated with his/her malignancy, for analysis of tumor cell sensitivity to vaccinia virus and for correlation studies. If available, patients may elect to provide a formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue block (from his/her primary or metastatic tumor) obtained within 45 days prior to written consent for the clinical trial granting release of the paraffin block.

Criteria Include:

1. Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent.

2. Histologically proven diagnosis of advanced (AJCC, 7th addition: stage III or IV) or aggressive (published disease-specific survival rates less than 20% at 5 years following best currently available therapies) solid organ cancer.

This includes but is not limited to:

-   -   Metastatic melanoma;     -   Esophageal and gastric adenocarcinoma (Stage III/IV);     -   Cholangiocarcinoma (any stage);     -   Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (any stage);     -   Gallbladder cancer (any stage);     -   High-grade mucinous appendix cancer (any stage);     -   High-grade gastrointestinal neuroendocrine cancer (any stage);     -   Mesothelioma (any stage);     -   High-grade soft tissue sarcoma (any stage).     -   Prostate cancer     -   Renal cell carcinoma     -   Lung small cell carcinoma     -   Lung non-small cell carcinoma     -   Head and neck Squamous cell carcinoma     -   Colorectal cancer     -   Ovarian carcinoma     -   Hepatocellular Carcinoma     -   Glioblastoma         3. Have NO continuing acute toxic effects of any prior therapy,         including but not limited to biological therapy, radiotherapy,         chemotherapy, or surgical procedures, i.e., all such effects         must have resolved to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse         Events (CTCAE, Version 4.0) Grade ≤1. Any other surgery (except         biopsies) must have occurred at least 28 days prior to study         enrollment.         4. ECOG performance Status of 0 to 2.         5. Have a life expectancy of at least 3 months.         6. Adequate organ and marrow function as defined below:     -   Absolute neutrophil count (ANC)≥1.5×10⁹;     -   Platelets ≥100×10⁹ (without platelet transfusion);     -   Hemoglobin ≥9.0 g/dL (with or without red blood cell (RBC)         transfusion);     -   Serum creatinine ≤1.5×upper limit of normal (ULN);     -   Bilirubin ≤1.5×ULN;     -   ALT and AST at ≤2.5×ULN (in case of liver metastasis AST/ALT at         ≤5.0×ULN);     -   LDH≤1.5×ULN.         7. Women of child-bearing potential and men with partners of         child-bearing potential must agree to use adequate contraception         (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior         to study entry, for the duration of study participation, and for         90 days following completion of therapy. Should a woman become         pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while participating in this         study, she should inform her treating physician immediately.     -   A woman of child-bearing potential is any female (regardless of         sexual orientation, having undergone a tubal ligation, or         remaining celibate by choice) who meets the following criteria:     -   Has not undergone a hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy; or     -   Has not been naturally postmenopausal for at least 12         consecutive months (i.e., has had menses at any time in the         preceding 12 consecutive months)         8. Women of child-bearing potential has negative pregnancy test         prior to initiating study drug dosing         9. Be willing and able to comply with scheduled visits, the         treatment plan, imaging and laboratory tests.         Exclusion Criteria         1. Current or anticipated use of other investigational agents or         marketed anticancer agent while on study.         2. Patients who have received chemotherapy or radiotherapy         within 4 weeks prior to entering the study or has not recovered         from adverse events due to agents administered more than 4 weeks         earlier.         3. Patients who are less than 4 weeks from surgery (except         biopsies) or have insufficient recovery from surgical-related         trauma or wound healing.         4. Have known immune system disorders (including acquired         immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), HIV infection or hepatitis B         or C). Eligible patients must have a negative HIV test result         within 4 weeks prior to study initiation.         5. Patients who are receiving additional immunosuppressive         therapy or any steroids (except concurrent corticosteroid usage         if no more than 20 mg per day, prednisolone equivalent is         applied).         6. Have received prior gene therapy or therapy with cytolytic         virus of any type.         7. Have clinically significant cardiac disease (New York Heart         Association Class III or IV) including pre-existing arrhythmia,         uncontrolled angina pectoris, and myocardial infarction one year         prior to study entry, or Grade 2 or higher compromised left         ventricular ejection fraction.         8. Pulse oximetry oxygen saturation <90% at rest.         9. Have dementia or altered mental status that would prohibit         informed consent.         10. Severe or uncontrolled medical disorder that would, in the         investigator's opinion, impair ability to receive study         treatment (i.e., uncontrolled diabetes, chronic renal disease,         chronic pulmonary disease or active, fever, systemic and/or         uncontrolled infections, psychiatric illness/social situations         that would limit compliance with study requirements).         11. Be receiving concurrent antiviral agent active against         vaccinia virus (e.g., cidofovir, vaccinia immunoglobulin,         imatinib, ST-246) during the course of study.         12. Have known allergy to ovalbumin or other egg products.         13. Have clinically significant dermatological disorders (e.g.,         eczema, psoriasis, or any unhealed skin wounds or ulcers) as         assessed by the Principal Investigator during screening and         during the study.         14. Have a history of allergy to iodinated contrast media.         15. Patients with known brain metastases should be excluded from         this clinical trial because of their poor prognosis and because         they often develop progressive neurologic dysfunction that would         confound the evaluation of neurologic and other adverse events.         16. Pregnant or nursing. There is a potential for congenital         abnormalities and for this regimen to harm nursing infants.         17. Patients that are not accepted to the study because their         condition does not seem to be one that can be improved with         SVF/ACAM2000 as determined by one or more of our physician team.         Interventions, Administration, and Duration

Interventions will be as follows:

a) Patient will receive local anesthesia consisting of lidocaine 0.5% with epinephrine 1:400,000 with HCO3 8.4% titrated to pH of 7.4 (generally 5 cc of HCO3 in total volume of 60 cc).

b) Patient undergoes sterile prep.

c) Patient undergoes liposuction procedure utilizing the Time-Machine™ device, fat processing unit (syringe) and 2.5-3 mm cannula.

d) Bacitracin ointment and a Band-Aid are secured over the wound along with a compressive bandage.

e) The SVF (ADSCs) are prepared in a closed system according to the established protocol (see Page 5)

Deployment Methods:

a. Intravenous: the non-expanded, autologous stromal vascular fraction (SVF) extracted from up to 500 ml of lipoaspirate and purified by collagenase digestion and a series of washing steps and containing up to 100 million cells incubated with vaccinia virus will be delivered by intravenous injection in a volume of 20 mL. b. Intra-tumoral: the SVF incubated with vaccinia virus will be delivered by intratumoral injection at the Desert Medical Imaging in Palm Desert, Calif. The injection volume and number of injected cells will vary and will depend on tumor type and tumor size and location. Dosing will be dependent upon individual yields. Should we find particular correlations with specific cell counts, then attempts may be made to optimize such counts for future patients. This, however, is not critical to the basic nature of this study and shouldn't affect its outcome.

Permitted Concomitant Therapy

Medications required to treat adverse events and manage cancer symptoms, concurrent stable disease (e.g., controlled hypertension), and supportive care agents such as erythropoietin or blood transfusion, and pain medications are allowed. The patient needs to notify the investigational site about any new medications he/she takes after the start of the study. All medications (other than study drug) and significant non-drug therapies (including physical therapy and blood transfusions) administered after the patient starts treatment with study drug must be recorded in the patient's medical record.

Below is a list of permitted supportive therapy/procedures:

-   -   Antiemetics;     -   Antidiarrheals;     -   Analgesics (e.g., non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)         or oral or trans-dermal narcotic analgesics;     -   Antibiotics;     -   Nutritional and fluid supplementation;     -   Myeloid growth factors (except routine use of G-CSF and GM-CSF);     -   Bisphosphonates;     -   Blood transfusions and the use of erythropoietin are permitted         at the discretion of the treating physician;     -   Prophylactic anticoagulant therapy (low dose) and full         anticoagulation are allowed.

Prohibited Concomitant Therapy

Other investigational therapies must not be used while the patient is on the study. Anti-cancer therapy (e.g., chemotherapy, biologic or radiation therapy, surgery) other than the study treatments must not be given to patients while the patient is on the study medication. If such agents are required for a patient, then the patient must be discontinued from the treatment portion of the study.

The list of non-permitted supportive therapy is listed below:

-   -   Surgery (other than the allowed surgical resection of primary         tumor);     -   Other investigational treatment;     -   Other anti-cancer treatments;     -   Systemic immunosuppressants (except concurrent corticosteroid         usage, if no more than 20 mg per day, prednisolone equivalent is         applied);     -   Immunotherapy;     -   Routine prophylactic use of growth factor (G-CSF or GM-CSF).

Toxicities and Dosing Delays/Dose Modifications

Any patient who receives treatment on this protocol will be evaluable for toxicity. Each patient will be assessed for the development of toxicity according to the NCI Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE), version 4.03. A toxicity-related treatment delay of more than 2 weeks is defined as a DLT requiring withdrawal from study treatment.

Safety/Tolerability

Analyses will be performed for all patients having received at least one dose of study drug. The study will use the CTCAE version 4.03 (http://ctep.cancer.gov/reporting/ctc.html) for reporting of adverse events (Appendix B).

Antitumor Effect—Solid Tumors

Patients' disease status will be following by cross-sectional imaging.

Tumor Response Evaluation (from Stanford I.T. Trial)

Tumor response rates will be calculated based on the Immune-related Response Criteria (irRC) (Wolchok et al., Guidelines for the evaluation of immune therapy activity in solid tumors: immune-related response criteria, Clin. Cancer Res. 2009, 15:7412-7420) in solid tumors, and secondarily with post-hoc assessment of response by Choi Criteria for gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). See Choi et al., Correlation of computed tomography and positron emission tomography in patients with metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor treated at a single institution with imatinib mesylate: proposal of new computed tomography response criteria, J. Clin. Oncol. 2007, 25:1753-1759. Relevant tumor imaging studies will be obtained at baseline line, during treatment and follow-up at months 1, 3, and then every 3 months for 12 months, and then yearly.

As immune therapies may increase tumor burden (1) either due to continued tumor growth until immune response develops, or transient immune-cell infiltrate with or without edema, or (2) cause new lesions to appear (i.e., difficulty in differentiating new lesions from baseline, nonmeasurable lesions due to T-cell infiltration into established, radiographically undetectable tumor deposits), treatment should continue as tumors may begin to shrink after follow-up at a subsequent time point to confirm PD. Patients with stable performance status and laboratory values which have not significantly deteriorated, or who have moderate tumor growth on physical exam or radiographic imaging, should have repeat confiLination scans before true disease progression is defined and treatment is withdrawn. Continued treatment should be weighed against potential toxicity from continued treatment.

The primary analysis of activity is based on immune-related response criteria. Best Overall Response Rate (BORR), which is the number of patients with a BOR of CR or PR, divided by the number of treated patients. Disease control rate (DCR) is the number of patients with CR, PR or SD divided by the number of treated patients.

Overall survival (OS) is defined as the time from randomization until death from any cause.

Disease-free survival (DFS) is the time from randomization until recurrence of tumor or death from any cause.

Time-to-recurrence is defined as the time from duration from start of study treatment to the first occurrence of a recurrence event. A recurrence event is defined as clinical, radiographic, or pathologic evidence of new or persistent local, regional, or distant disease. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for treating a solid tumor or hematologic malignancy in a subject, comprising administering to the subject an oncolytic virus in a composition comprising adipose stromal cells, wherein: prior to administration, the virus had been cultured with the adipose stromal cells; and the virus is selected from among a poxvirus, adenovirus, herpes simplex virus, Newcastle disease virus, vesicular stomatitis virus, reovirus, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and lentivirus.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the oncolytic virus is a vaccinia virus.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the oncolytic virus does not comprise heterologous nucleic acid that encodes a heterologous product.
 4. A method for treating a solid tumor or hematologic malignancy in a subject, comprising administering to the subject an oncolytic virus in a composition comprising adipose stromal cells, wherein: the virus is a vaccinia virus; and the virus is incubated with the composition comprising the adipose stromal cells for 2 to 4 hours prior to administration.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the vaccinia virus is an attenuated New York City Board of Health (NYCBOH) strain of vaccinia virus.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the NYCBOH strain of vaccinia virus has all of the identifying characteristics of the strain deposited as ATCC VR-118 or CJ-MVB-SPX.
 7. The method of claim 4, wherein the vaccinia virus is selected from among Dryvax, ACAM1000, ACAM2000, Lister, EM63, LIVP, Tian Tan, Copenhagen, Western Reserve, Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA), New York City Board of Health (NYCBOH), Dairen, Ikeda, LC16M8, Tashkent, Wyeth, IHD-J, IHD-W, Brighton, Dairen I, and Connaught strains.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the solid tumor or hematologic malignancy is a solid tumor that is a glioblastoma, breast carcinoma, lung carcinoma, pancreatic adenocarcinoma, prostate carcinoma, colon carcinoma, ovarian carcinoma, neuroblastoma, central nervous system tumor, or melanoma.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the oncolytic virus encodes a heterologous gene product.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the subject is human.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the subject is a pediatric patient.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the adipose stromal cells are in an adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction (SVF).
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the adipose-derived SVF is autologous to the subject.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein the adipose-derived SVF is allogeneic to the subject.
 15. The method of claim 4, wherein the vaccinia virus is ACAM1000 or ACAM2000.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the vaccinia virus is ACAM2000.
 17. The method of claim 4, wherein the solid tumor or hematologic malignancy is a solid tumor that is a glioblastoma, breast carcinoma, lung carcinoma, pancreatic adenocarcinoma, prostate carcinoma, colon carcinoma, ovarian carcinoma, neuroblastoma, central nervous system tumor, or melanoma.
 18. A method of treating a solid tumor or a hematological malignancy in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising a smallpox vaccine and a carrier cell for treating the solid tumor or hematological malignancy, wherein: the smallpox vaccine and the carrier cell are cultured together in vitro prior to administration to the subject; and the carrier cell is an immune cell.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the immune cell is a lymphocyte.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the lymphocyte is a T cell.
 21. The method of claim 18, wherein the smallpox vaccine is selected from among Dryvax, ACAM1000, ACAM2000, Lister, EM63, LIVP, Tian Tan, Copenhagen, Western Reserve, Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA), New York City Board of Health, Dairen, Ikeda, LC16M8, Tashkent, Wyeth, IHD-J, IHD-W, Brighton, Dairen I, and Connaught strains.
 22. The method of claim 18, wherein the smallpox vaccine is ACAM1000 or ACAM2000.
 23. The method of claim 18, wherein the solid tumor or hematological malignancy is a solid tumor that is a glioblastoma, pancreatic adenocarcinoma, breast carcinoma, lung carcinoma, prostate carcinoma, colon carcinoma, ovarian carcinoma, neuroblastoma, central nervous system tumor, or melanoma.
 24. The method of claim 4, wherein the oncolytic virus encodes a heterologous gene product.
 25. The method of claim 4, wherein the subject is human.
 26. The method of claim 4, wherein the composition comprising the adipose stromal cells is an adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction (SVF).
 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the adipose-derived SVF is autologous to the subject.
 28. The method of claim 26, wherein the adipose-derived SVF is allogeneic to the subject.
 29. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition containing the virus and cells was stored following culturing together and prior to use. 